Secret locking device for drawers, cash-boxes, and the like.



No. 862,827. I PATENTED AUG. 6, 1907. I. KRAFT.

SECRET LOCKING DEVICE EUR DRAWERS, CASH BOXES, AND THE LIKE.

' APPLIOATION FILED APR. 2, 1907.

Wiines es: Z'iZma/z UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IGNAZ KRAFT, OF EBRINGEN, GERMANY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 6, 1907.

Application filed April 2,1907. Serial No. 866,034.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IGNAZ KRAFT, manufacturer, a subject of the Grand Duke of Baden, and residing at Ebringen, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire, have invented certain new and useful [mprovcments in Secret Locking Devices for Drawers, Gasl Boxes, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

The usual locking devices for drawers, cash-boxes and the like, do not afford sufficient security against being opened by unauthorized persons, and they are, therefore, not suited as a depository for money, important papers, and the like, while safes are in many cases too expensive. This drawback is overcome by my improved secret locking device which is opened by gently pressing, in a distinct succession, upon two non-conspicuous places or portions of the drawer or the like.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drawer furnished with my invention, the top-board being removed; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the top-board Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the top-board in line A-B of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a similar view, the parts being shown in another position; Fig. 5 is a section through Fig. 2 in line C-D Fig. 6 is a front-view of the right-hand portion of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is a plan of the parts shown in Fig. 6, a portion of the top-board being shown in horizontal section.

Referring to Fig. 1, a represents the casing of a drawer or box, and b isthe drawer or box proper which is to be secured against being opened by an unauthorized person. The casinga has springs c 0 adapted to force the box I) outwards as soon as the locking parts are disconnected, as described hereinafter. The box b has a V-shaped spring d, the upper and longer arm of which extends forwards as well as upwards so as to press against the lower surface of the top-board e; just above the spring d, the top-board e has a lug or ledge f, Fig. 3, the position of which is such that the upper arm of the spring (1 takes behind this lug when the box I) has completely been shoved into the casing (1. Therefore, the box I) cannot be removed from or drawn out of the casing at until the upper arm of the spring d has been depressed which may be brought about as follows: The top-board e has, in its front-portion, a recess containing a ledge g which may be turned around a pivot h, Figs. 6 and '7. This pivot may be in connection with the bolt-nab of the lock proper of the drawer or cash-box and does not extend to the upper surface of the top-board e, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6. The ledge g is under the action of a flat spring 1', Fig. 7, constantly tending to turn the ledge around the pivot 72, that is to say, to hold the ledge in such a position that its front surface lies flush with the front surface of the top-board e.

The ledge g is connected, by means of a screw Z, with a slide is, the connection being such that the slide k may slightly turn around the screw 1. The slide it has a circular cut-out m having an oblong extension m through which takes a bolt n. If the ledge g is pressed into the recess of the topboard 6 containing the ledge, also the slide is is moved into the recess provided for its reception, and on these parts being let loose again, the spring 1' moves them back into their former position.

The bolt 12. has a head n lying above the slide k, and a collar n lying below said slide. The ledge f which is secured, as already said, to the lower surface of the top-board e is angular in section (Fig. 3) and the bolt 'n reaches down through said ledge and has a female nut 0 below the same. Between. the ledge f and the collar n is a helix p. This spring is compressed by pressing the head n downwards, but the head n can be pressed downwards only after the slide is has been moved inwards so that the circular cut-out m has arrived below said head. By thus forcing also the bolt n downwards, the upper arm of the spring d is moved away from the vertical portion of the angular ledge f and the box I) may now be drawn out of the casing a, or, in other words, it is forced out of said casing by means of the springs c 0. Therefore, to open the drawer or cash-box or the like, first the ledge g is pressed inwards and then the head or button n is pressed downwards when the box proper will be automatically opened by the said springs. If the box is closed, the ledge g is completely flush with the front side of the top-board e and the button n is completely flush with the upper surface of the top-board e.

The device in question may be combined with an electric contact, for instance for closing the circuit of an alarm-bell. For this purpose, the recess containing the ledge or lever 9 contains also two contact-pieces q which are brought in contact by the inward movement of the ledge or lever g. The contact-pieces are connected, by means of wires 1 r, with a battery or other source of electricity and with an electric bell which, thus, is caused to ring instantly when the lever g is pressed inwards Of course, many kinds of electric alarm-devices may be combined with the lockingdevice in question, for instance also such in which the bell is caused to ring by the cutting through of one or the other of the two wires.

Having now described my invention what I desire to secure by a patent of the United States is:

1. In a secret locking device for drawers, cash-boxes and the like, the combination of a lug secured to the lower surface of the top-board and taking into the box; a spring secured to an inner surface of the box and taking behind said lug; a bolt located in the topboard above said spring and being adapted to be depressed so as to disconnect the said spring from said lug; a button forming a head for said bolt; a collar secured to the bolt below said head; a slide located inside of the top-board and taking between said button and said collar; two apertures of difierent size in said slide, the said bolt passing normally through the smaller aperture, and the larger aperture being adapted to let said button pass after the slide has been displaced, substantially as described.

2. In a secret locking device for drawers; cash-boxes, and the like, the combination of a'lug secured to the lower surface of the top-board and taking into the box; a spring secured to an inner surface of the box and taking behind said lug; a bolt located in the top-board above said spring and being adapted to be depressed so as to disconnect the said spring from said lug; a button forming a head for. said bolt; a collar secured to the bolt below said head; a slide located inside of the top-board and taking, between said button and said collar; two apertures of different size in said slide, the said bolt passing normally through the smaller aperture, and the larger aperture being adapted to let the said button pass after the slide has been displaced, and a lever connected with said slide, and lying normally flush with the front-surface of the top-board, substantially as described.

3. In a secret locking device for drawers, cash-boxes,

and the like, the combination of a lug secured to the lower surface of the top-board and taking into the box; a spring secured to an inner surface of the box and taking behind said lug; a bolt located in the top-board above said spring and being adapted to be depressed so as to disconnect the said spring; from said lug a button forming a head for said bolt and lying normally flush with the upper surface of the topboard; a collar secured to the bolt below said head; a slide located inside of the top-board and taking between said button and said collar; two apertures of diiferent size in said slide, the said bolt passing normally through the smaller aperture, and the larger aperture being adapted to let the said button pass after the slide has been displaced. and a lever connected with said slide, and lying normally flush with the front-surface of the top-board, substantially as describedv In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' IGNAZ KRAFT.

Witnesses PHILIPP HENSELMANN, ALBERT HERZOG EXLWIN. 

